2nd Ahoghill travelled to Finvoy Presbyterian Church to take part in the opening round of this year's Masterteam competition.
It was our first involvement in a national competition since we had reached the Masterteam Irish Final in February 2020, finishing just one place short of representing Northern Ireland in the National Final. Our team included one boy from that outing and three others who were participating for the first time.
A total of 17 Companies from around Northern Ireland had entered this year’s competition, and had been organised into three groups which would compete simultaneously. Our group was hosted by 9th Route, and also included 5th Coleraine, 1st Ballyclare, 1st Ballymoney and 1st Greenisland. The latter two of which had also competed in the 2020 Irish Final.
Despite the heavy rain on our drive to Finvoy we were the first away team to arrive, and were warmly welcomed by Ian Bolton of 9th Route. Once all teams had arrived the night was opened in prayer and the logistics of the quiz were explained. No designated scorekeeper was available so it was agreed that a leader from each Company would act as scorekeeper for one of the other teams, marking their answers at the end of each round.
A summary of the rounds can be found below-
Round 1 – All things old (Questions/Answers included “old”)
Round 2 – Arts and Books
Round 3 – Blockbusters (Answers were two words both starting with B)
Round 4 – Technology
Round 5 – Geography
Round 6 – Picture Round – World Leaders/Politicians (5 minute time limit)
Round 7 – Let It Go (Questions/Answers included “Go”)
Round 8 – Sport
Round 9 – Ten Seconds (Questions included “2nd”)
Round 10 – General Knowledge
Final Scores
The top team from each group, plus the five highest scores from all remaining teams would progress to the Irish Final in February 2023.
After ten closely contested rounds, 1st Ballyclare topped our group with 68 points and progressed automatically. However our boys kept 2nd Ahoghill’s hopes alive by clinching second place with a score of 63 points.
Update (22/11/2022): We were informed that 2nd Ahoghill progressed to the Irish Finals, alongside group winners 4th Newtownabbey and 1st Ballyclare, joint group winners 1st Garvagh and 1st Ardstraw, and the high scoring 11th Bangor, 3rd Carrickfergus, 9th Route and 1st Greenisland.
| Rounds | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Total |
| 1st Ballyclare | 4 | 7 | 6 | 7.5 | 7 | 9 | 8.5 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 68 |
| 2nd Ahoghill | 5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 63 |
| 9th Route | 5 | 5 | 4.5 | 6.5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 62 |
| 1st Greenisland | 4 | 5.5 | 6 | 5.5 | 5 | 8 | 7.5 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 61.5 |
| 5th Coleraine | 1.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 59 |
| 1st Ballymoney | 4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 6.5 | 3.5 | 6 | 7.5 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 54.5 |
